Sorrento Back Beach, Mornington Peninsula

Also known as Sorrento Ocean Beach, Sorrento Back Beach on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is a surprisingly decent spot for swimming.

Sorrento Back Beach on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula feels a world away from its sister, Sorrento Beach. The latter is on Port Phillip Bay, backed by lots of houses, cafés and restaurants, while the Queenscliff ferry leaves from the Sorrento Pier

Sorrento Back Beach is on the other side of the Mornington Peninsula from Sorrento, only a couple of kilometres away. But it feels much more untamed. The ocean crashes in here, the development is kept to a minimum, barring the surf club on the bluff behind the beach.

How long is Sorrento Back Beach?

Also known as Sorrento Ocean Beach, Sorrento Back Beach curves like a natural amphitheatre. It’s not especially long – it’s about half a kilometre in length. But the setting between a headland and offshore reefs, with dune backing, gives it quite the atmosphere.

Those offshore reefs are key to the experience on Sorrento Back Beach. Seriously big waves can crash against them. But the reefs generally take the sting out of the swell, and the shore breaks are much more manageable.

13 fabulous Mornington Peninsula experiences to book

There are dozens of Mornington Peninsula tours available from Melbourne. The experiences listed below are aimed at those staying on the Peninsula, or with their own transport.

Half day dolphin and seal swim from Sorrento.
Peninsula Hot Springs fire, ice and bathe experience.
Moonlit Sanctuary wildlife park entry ticket.
Guided e-bike tour in Arthurs Seat State Park and beyond.
Wildlife kayaking tour from Portsea.
Waterbike tour from Mornington.
Point Nepean National Park bike hire.
French cooking class in Fingal.
Dolphin and seal watching cruise from Sorrento.
Mornington Peninsula wineries hop-on, hop-off bus.
Montalto Vineyard discovery wine-tasting with lunch.
Enchanted Garden entry ticket.
Snorkelling with sea dragons in Portsea.

Swimming at Sorrento Back Beach

This means Sorrento Back Beach is a reasonably safe place to swim. It’s better at high tide – at low tide there can be rips and exposed rocks. But as long as you stay between the flags, you should be reasonably safe going for a swim at Sorrento Back Beach. Lifeguard patrols make it an even safer bet.

Surfers are best off going beyond the reefs, although this is something that only the experienced should attempt.

Other Mornington Peninsula beaches worth visiting include Dromana Beach and Safety Beach on Port Phillip Bay, plus Gunnamatta Beach and Portsea Surf Beach on the ocean side.